We often reserve the word “courageous” for someone who does great deeds. In this issue, however, we honor the everyday courage of ordinary people.

My new hero is a young carhop at a small-town hamburger stand in Central Texas. I don’t know her name, but I was impressed.

I stopped in for a burger and fries. Earlier that day, I had noticed the old-fashioned drive-in. “What better way,” I thought, “to eat out during the pandemic?” No going indoors, just order through the intercom below the menu, and wait for the carhop to bring the food out. And also, no waiting in a drive-thru line!

After placing my order, I saw two carhops carrying food to other cars. I noticed nothing special about either. Both young people were energetic and greeted customers warmly. They kept busy carrying bags of food to the cars.

When my order came, it was the young woman who brought it. She was probably 18 or 20 years old. After she handed me my order, I gave her cash in payment; only as she was making change did I notice: she had no fingers on her left hand! The thumb with which she clasped the bills was normal; the other four fingers were all just stubs, maybe half an inch long. Based on that brief glance, I’d guess the cause was birth defect rather than injury.

As I ate my food, I watched her more closely. Many cars were obviously ordering take-out for large gatherings, not just the occupants. I saw her carry four large plastic bags to one car, the handles of three bags looped over her left forearm, while she carried the other in her right hand. I could not have handled that load as easily as she did!

I don’t know how the job description for a carhop might read, but I suspect verbs such as “carry,” “lift,” and “pick up” would appear. It is not a job I would suggest for someone with a deformed hand. But my carhop performed it gracefully, cheerfully and efficiently. She is an example of everyday courage, overcoming obstacles she did nothing to deserve.

She is my new hero.

One of the funnest times of my life was back in the ‘80’s and ‘90’s when I was a 4-H parent, 4-H leader, and 4-H Youth Coordinator. In those jobs, I got to haul 4-H kids around the state, not only for competitions in their animal projects, but mostly for conferences focusing on leadership, citizenship, and other enriching activities. The programs were always motivating and inspiring.

Her name escapes me, but I remember her smiling eyes and glowing face. A beautiful, young adult keynoter at a District 4-H Conference took center stage, exuding confidence and conviction. From her wheelchair she sat tall and talked about the inner strength it took to come back from her skiing accident that paralyzed her from the neck down. She encouraged attendees to make the best of each day, to do ordinary things with extraordinary strength, and to make each day count. Because, she said, within an instant a life could be changed, that we should remember that we are TABs – we are Temporarily Able- Bodied people. Whether it be an accident, or the normal progression of aging, when it happens that we are no longer able- bodied, it is the inner strength that would hold us up.

Where does inner strength come from? Although for each person the source is different, I find strength from divine assurances I read in scripture each morning. My faith tells me that even if I am no longer a TAB person, I still can trust in scriptural promises. There is one in particular that has followed me around for a long, long time; that is Isaiah 43:1b-4a. “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; in the rivers, you shall not drown. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, the flames shall not consume you. For I am the LORD your God,…you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you."

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